Thursday, June 9, 2016

Feeding Your Older Cat

Cats:
They’re notoriously mysterious. They hide their illnesses well, often rule the
home, and only want affection when they’re in the mood for it. Some cat breeds
have average lifespans of nearly 20 years, while others might only live for 10.
Most cats will begin to show visible age-related changes between 7 and 12 years
of age. There are metabolic, immunologic, and body composition changes, too.

While
some age-related changes are unavoidable, some can be managed with diet. It’s
beneficial to start your cat on a senior diet at about 7 years old. Why? Foods
specifically designed for senior cats help to maintain health and optimum body
weight, slow or prevent the development of chronic disease, and minimize or
improve clinical signs of diseases that may already be present.

As
your cat ages, he or she will be more susceptible to particular health issues,
including:

·Deterioration
of skin and coat

·Loss
of muscle mass

·More
frequent intestinal problems

·Arthritis

·Obesity

·Dental
problems

·Decreased
ability to fight off infection

Just
like humans, cats who receive regular preventive health care and eat healthy
diets will be less likely to suffer from age-related health conditions. Not
sure what to feed your feline to help him or her age gracefully? Ask us—we’d be
happy to help.